Machine for rounding up lumps of dough.



F. H. VAN HOUTEN,

MACHINE FOR'ROUNDING UP LUMPS 0F DOUGH.

APPLICATION FILED rss. 2, IsIe.

1,244,801 Patented 00u 30,1917.

'Leanser wir@ @este cette@ am@ E FRANK H. VAN HOUTEN,` or Beacon, new Yoan,

ssienon 'ro DUTcHEss rroof.

COMPANY, or Hanson, new Yoann coaronafrron or NEW Yoan.

MACHINE `ron eounnrne ,Ur Lunies or Dorien.

" f speifieaua of teatral-raient.

f f rammed oct. so, 1917.

Application led February 1916, S,eri a1No. 75,69l8. i

To all whom t may concern Y i j,

Be it known that I, FRANK Il.' VAN HOUTEN', a citizen of the United States, re.- siding at Beacon, inthe countyof Dutchess and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful ImprovementsinMachines for IRounding Up Lumps of Dough; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming part of' this specification. f

This invention relates to4 a machine for rounding up, kneading and giving a surface finish to lumps of dough vpreparatory to the proofing and baking ofthe same to make bread.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an exceedingly simple and eflicient machine of the above type, which will effectually perform the roundingup and finishing operations .as a practically continuous process, whereby a succession or series of lumps of dough may be simultaneously treated and progressed through the machine, one lump after the other. f

Y The invention consists inthe'construction, j

Figure l is a top plan view of a machine embodying the present improvements.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in longitudinal vertical section, of the same.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on" the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Like characters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.

rllhe base frame of the machine is illustrated as of conventional form, consisting of the end uprights A, A. braced by longitudinal connecting bars A2. Supported by the uprights A, A is a top board or table B upon which the dough engaging parts of the present invention are mounted.

Near its opposite ends, the table B is provided with depending bearing sleeves b, b', in which are journaled vertical spindles or shafts C, C. Mounted on the upper ends of the respective spindles C, C are pulleys D, D, eac-h pulley being eccentrically mounted on its spindle, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These pulleys support the opposite ends of an endless belt E, which forms the movable dough-molding surface ofthe machine. At

the centers :ofthe 'respective pulleys D, D are spindles d, d which support a frame F consisting of an upper horizontal skeleton memberF, a basel??` upon which the pulf leysf'resn-and vertical fplates F3 and Ft connecting the.` skeleton member andthe base andv locatedon eachside of the frame. The verticalfplates F3, Ft arebetween the pulleysD, D and'fcrrnir a backing for the mov-V ing belt E.- YThe outereidge Aof the base F is beveled, asxshowniat ffsaid'base sliding over the upper surface of the vtable'B during the movement of thebelt and iframe as a body and -preventing'dough `on ytheftable from .vorkingbetweenthebelt and table.'

The stationary dough-molding' surface of the present invention is preferably embodied in a stationary tro-ugh il entendingY around one end ofthe belt E and having its opposing doughnnolding surface Hl spaced/freni the outer dough-engaging.surface of the belt, whereby lumps of'd'ough may'` be positioned between the trough and belt and rolled'along the surface of the trough when the 'belt is broughtintozcontact with them; Preferably, the surface' H of the trough is inclined atan angle away from the belt,fand one end of the -troughvleft'iopen to facilitate feeding' and discharge ofthe lumpsof'dough.

, Each*verticallspindle C, C" is provided with a1gearfc', .the gear cy being in mesh with drivingpinionsclon a' longitudinal drive shaft I. Drive shaft I is journaled at its opposite ends in suitable bearings in the up'- rightsA, A of the frame work and is provided with a suitable pulley whereby drive shaft I may be connected'with any suitable power source, not shown. n

lith the arrangement above described, if shaft l is set in motion, a lump of dough placed between the-belt E andthe doughmolding surface H ofv the trough at the inlet It will. be caused to advance along the trough H by the continuous forward inove- Cyl ment of the dough-engaging surface of thel j The eccentricity ofthe aXes of rotarolled along the trough by the moving surface of the belt. The bodily lateral movement of the belt squeezes thelumps of dough against the molding surface H of the trough and the continuous forward movement of the belt carries the lumps along) the trough rolling them against its surface. The lumps of dough are progressed around the trough and discharged at the point 7L. This operation will'impart to the lumps of dough a surface iinish and will, because ofthe squeezing of the lumps against thel surface ofthe stationary trough and the lrolling movement, knead the dough.

What is claimed is:

l. A dough rounding up machine comprising, a stationary dough-molding surface, a continuously movable endless belt coperable with said stationary dough-molding surface, and means for moving the belt bodily in a. substantially elliptical path whereby lumps of doughv interposed between the stationary dough-molding surface and the `belt may be, alternately pressed and releasedv by said belt.

Q. vA dough rounding up machine com-4 prising, a stationary douglrmolding surface, a continuously movabley endless belt cooperable with said stationary dough-molding surface and arranged at an angle with respect to the latter, and means for movdng the belt lbodily in a substantially elliptical path, whereby lumps of dough interposed between the stationary dough-molding surfacey and the belt may be alternately pressed and released by saidV belt.

8. In a machine for rounding up lumps ofv dough,- the combinationwith thel table, of a stationary doughmolding surface on the table, an endless belt arranged in opposi# tion to said dough molding surface whereby lumps of dough may be positioned between the belt and the dough-molding surface, and driving mechanism for imparting a continuous Vfo-rward movement to the belt and for moving vthe belt bodily in a substantially elliptical path, whereby the lumps of dough are intermittently brought into contactwith the moving. doughlengaging surface of the belt.

` 4. In a machine for rounding up lumps of dough, the combination with the table, of an yendless dough engaging belt on said table, a stationary dough-molding trough. extendbelt,- each pulley having an' eccentric axis of rotation', and" gearing connections for imparting continuous rotary movement to said pulleys about their eccentric axes.

machine for rounding up lumps of dough, the combination with tlie table, of a stationary dough-molding surface on the table, an endless belt arranged in opposition to said dough molding surface whereby lumps'of dough may ble positioned between the belt and thev dough molding surface, pulleys supporting the opposite ends of -the belt, a' frame supported at itsV ends on the central axes of the respectivey pulleys,- each pulley having an eccentric airisl of rotation, and gearingk connections for imparting continuousl rotary movement to said pulleys about their eccentric aX'es.

FRANK H.- VAN HOUTEN.

Copies of this4 patent may be obtained forv ve cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents: Washington, D. C. 

